the fifo wife

My boys are 6, 4 and 3 years old. They are little boys in every way from pretending to be spider man to playing basketball but when I ask them for their help they are men in every way and I couldn’t be prouder. Its a side effect from this FIFO lifestyle that they occasional have to step up and stop being little boys and instead be little men. Its not one I really took note of until this past weekend when it was just us, a handsaw and a tree.

Stepping up and playing a mans role is not something I ask of them often but when I do without fail they are there with all their might. They fore go their play with their friends up the road and help mummy shift furniture, mow lawns, hang washing and this past weekend chop down a fair size tree. Always without a whinge or a whine. They do it not for pocket money because frankly I don’t believe in it…yet..they do it because while daddy is away making money for us they are the men of the house and its their job to help out mummy anyway they can.

I dont worry that Im asking to much because when playing with their friends you cant tell the difference between them and their mates. B1 is usually hanging from a tree whilst b3 is roaring in your face like a dinosaur but place them in a room full of adults they are different boys they are little men. This lifestyles odd little side effect is producing independent, strong, fore thinking, considerate and helpful little men.What can be bad about that?

They make my heart sing. Truly they do.

Have a lovely Wednesday

xX Deb.

After trying many many bases this one is quick easy and delicous!

This makes three pizza bases and can be made up to an hour ahead of time.

What you will need:

• 375ml (1 1/2 cups) warm water
• 2 tsp (7g/1 sachet) dried yeast
• Pinch of caster sugar
• 600g (4 cups) plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil, plus extra for brushing

How to:

1. Combine the water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture and oil. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until the mixture is combined. Use your hands to bring the dough together in the bowl.
2. Brush a bowl lightly with oil. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in the prepared bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught-free place to rise for 30 minutes or until dough doubles in size.

xx Deb

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 6 drum sticks of chicken
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 chorizo sausage*, chopped
• 1 cup (200g) basmati rice
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 425g can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1/2 red capsicum, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 small red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped
• 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
• 250g cooked prawns, peeled (if you have them handy)
• 1 cup of defrosted peas
• 2 tbs chopped coriander leaves
• Lemon wedges, to serve

Okay so yesterday one of the native trees in our back yard toppled. A result of all the rain and the fact my boys love to climb trees. It had been slowly been falling bending ever so slightly as the ground became more sodden and last week with one final blow from the wind it was over. The fact my boys hang from it like monkeys only helped its rapid decline.

So not knowing how to use a chain saw and absolutely determined that it had to be moved nor wanting to ask for help and knowing I could do it no matter what, I set about ‘hand sawing’ the little bugger. It took me three and half hours as I strategically removed boughs and branches to get it to shift. I used the boys as weights (no occupational health and safety here I’m afraid) and all awhile I was sawing away I remember FIFO husbands instructions on how to use a hand saw. Who ever thought that advice would come in handy? Apart from useing the right saw for the right job (it was clear to me after I sawed the tree down that I had infact used the wrong saw and should have used a cross cut saw instead of a rip saw…the difference outlined here). So his advice. Brace yourself arms tucked in and I distinctly remember rolling my eyes as he said pressure on the push stroke and lighten it as you pull out. It sounded very… ahem… much like the sex advice my very British neighbour tried to give me when I was sixteen it was also the same advice she gave me for learning how to do corners when I was learning to drive…go figure: corners are like catholic sex Deb she said slowly in and quickly out.  It sent me into fits of hysterics then and still does now.

So there my girls is my how to on how to use a handsaw and if you want better advice than that (and who wouldn’t you never know when it may come in handy) head here.

Today may be a long day…I can barely lift my arms or bend my fingers not to mention the blisters…gloves..no why would I use them..idiot I am.

Have a great day lovelies,

xxDeb